H.—6

That the accidents to be reported in a factory should not be limited to certain branches of work, but that all accidents should be at once reported to Inspectors for investigation. That persons placed in charge of boilers, &c, in factories should have some kind of certificate. At present the lives of many workers are endangered through the carelessness and incompetence of those persons placed in charge of engines and boilers. That not only factories and workshops should be kept clean, but that an Inspector should have power to compel cleanliness, &c, in the yards, enclosures, &c, adjoining a factory. It is useless to look after the health of employes within a building if in the adjoining premises there are cesspools, manure-heaps, accumulation of rubbish, Arc. In such case every door, window, or ventilation is a source of danger, and the occupier of such a factory may have all his efforts to safeguard the health of his workpeople rendered nugatory by the dirtiness or carelessness of his neighbour. Operatives should not be allowed to work in rooms below the level of the street. Cases occur where employers have kept their hands (generally women and girls) working for years in cellars having a damp or chilling atmosphere, and where the continual use of gas or artificial light causes eye-trouble. The regulations concerning washing with lime or other disinfectant should apply to shearers' accommodation as well as to factories. Some of the dwellings in which shearers have to sleep need special precautions being taken against their becoming infested with vermin, such buildings having long periods of disuse. That agricultural and pastoral labourers should have their accommodation inspected as much as shearers. It seems absurd that rigid inspection should be made of buildings in which men sleep only a few days, while stock-riders, labourers, &c, have to live on for years in dilapidated and unclean abodes. That too much latitude is now allowed to Inspectors in deciding as to what is proper accommodation for shearers. The general direction should be " a suitable room for sleeping-accommodation, giving not less than 250 cubic feet of space for each person ; to be properly lighted, ventilated, and supplied with stretchers or bunks. A room for meals to be provided separate from the sleepingroom." It is also suggested that a week's notice should be given to an Inspector as to commencement of shearing, so that he can at that time inform himself if accommodation is suitable. That the "forty-eight hours in one week " (section 54) be altered to " eight hours in one day," for women, lads, and Chinese. That no overtime should be granted to young persons, boys or girls, under the age of sixteen years. It is considered that at such an age eight hours' steady work is as much as can be performed with due consideration for health. That permission to work overtime on half-holiday be not allowed. That no person, irrespective of age or sex, be allowed to work overtime at a less rate than 6d. per hour. That a penalty be inflicted by the Act upon any person found defrauding his workpeople by not paying the wages for holidays decreed by Act. That three months, instead of one month, be allowed to an Inspector for laying informations. That the last section of " The Factories Act Amendment Act, 1896," allowing doors of rooms in which six or fewer than six persons are engaged to be locked during working-hours, be repealed. This should not be permitted, neither in regard to the safety of workers in case of fire, earthquake, &c, nor on account of obstruction of Inspectors when on duty. Shops and Shop-assistants Act. That the definition of " office employe " should include messengers. That the exempted businesses—chemists, fruiterers, fishmongers, &c.— : be not exempted. That the only exemptions be for coffee-houses or eating-houses providing food to be consumed on the premises. That Christmas Day, New Year's Day, Good Friday, the Sovereign's birthday, and Easter Monday be statutory holidays on which shops must close. That assistants employed waiting in hotel dining-rooms, restaurants, or eating-houses should be entitled to a half-holiday on some one day in the week, as barmaids and shop-assistants are entitled. That no woman or person under eighteen years of age shall work in or about any shop between the hours of 6 o'clock in the afternoon and 8 o'clock in the morning of the following day excepting on one day in each week, when they can be kept at work till 10 o'clock p.m. Persons employed m a shop (including the clerical staff) may, with the written consent of the Inspector, be employed for a period not exceeding two hours in any one day beyond the ordinary working-hours, on not more than thirty days in any one year, for purposes of stock-taking. No overtime may be worked on a half-holiday. Overtime shall be paid for at the rate of time and a half of usual wages, but in no case to be less than 6d. per hour. If any shop-assistant or office employe is directed by his employer to work overtime application must first be made to an Inspector for written permit, to be granted on terms similar to those in section 55 of the Factories Act, paragraphs 2, 3, and 4, except that men shall be included as well as women and youths. This section applies also to office employes and messengers. In offices no employe or messenger is to work for more than twelve hours, overtime to be paid after eight hours. Notice to be given to Inspector when half-yearly balance commences. That a dining-room shall be provided for women and young persons who are shop-assistants, :as factory Operatives are provided for under the Factory Act. If the shop is connected with a factory the factory dining-room can also be used by the shop-assistants, if of sufficient area.

IV